Mar
28
News & Events
Animal Behavior Majors: You might be interested...
- FIELD COURSE: DANTA Tropical Biology and Conservation Field Course in Costa Rica
We are pleased to announce our 2025 field courses in tropical biology. Our courses are intended for undergraduates or early graduate level students who have a keen interest in tropical ecosystems and conservation but have little or no experience of working in a tropical environment. Participants may enroll on either a credit or non-credit basis.
As much of our advertising is done by word-of-mouth, we encourage you to spread the word by forwarding this information to students or friends who may be interested in our programs.
For more information, please visit our website at www.danta.info and/or email conservation@danta.email. For an alumni perspective on our programs, please see our blog DANTAisms - http://dantablog.wordpress.com/ [dantablog.wordpress.com].
Tropical Biology and Conservation
Date: December 26- January 4, 2025
Program Fee: $1900
Application deadline: November 15, 2024
Methods in Primate Behavior and Conservation
Date: June 10-25, 2025
Program fee: $2900
Application deadline: May 1, 2025
Wildlife Conservation and Sustainability
Date: July 1-16, 2025
Program Fee: $2900
Application deadline: June 1, 2025
Field Excursion
All courses include a visit to a wildlife rehabilitation center, sustainable chocolate plantation and dolphin and snorkeling trip of the Golfo Dulce. We will stay overnight on the Boruca Indigenous Reserve where we will learn about the community and their traditional lifeways, and help with needed projects. Every effort is made to implement eco-friendly and socially responsible practices into our day-to-day operations, field courses and overall mission.--
DANTA: Association for Conservation of the Tropics
438 Norway Avenue
Huntington, WV 25705 USA
conservation@danta.email
740-274-2733
- TRAINING: Venomous Handling Training/ Networking Opprtunity
We are holding our Level I Venomous Handling Certification Course at the Kalamazoo Nature Center from Nov. 02-03, and we still have open seats available! This two-day certification course includes a classroom day covering ecology, toxinology, first aid, captive considerations, and disease mitigation; and a live handling day where participants work with our venomous ambassador animals in learning basic tool use and handling precautions. This course sets a solid safety foundation for working with venomous snakes for both new and experienced professionals. All the proceeds fund our venomous herpetology research grants - to which we invite researchers apply - as well as internal conservation projects and outreach programs. Students, veterans, and first responders receive a discounted registration fee.
This course is also an excellent networking opportunity. We’ve had an enormous range of individuals attending over the years, including biologists, veterinarians, zookeepers, law enforcement, military, hobbyists, agency staff, consultants, EMTs, doctors, and nurses. Many of my own professional contacts have been made through this course, and I can’t recommend it enough for folks looking seeking diverse connections.
I’m happy to answer any questions folks may have, or you can learn more about our organization at www.savethebuzztails.org
Hope to see you there!
Very Respectfully,
Adam Austin | MS, PhD Candidate
Research Associate, Instructor
269-267-4187
Non-profit 501(c)(3) Organization
www.facebook.com/savethebuzztails
"To advance the protection of rattlesnakes and their habitat through research and education."
- STUDENT INTEREST MEMBERSHIP: Association of Zoos and Aquariums Student membership call out
Hi Dr. Wellman,
My name is Jada Ryan, and I am reaching out on behalf of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.
We at AZA are looking to establish a connection with Indiana University’s Animal Behavior program. As an organization, we recognize that the strength of the zoo and aquarium industry is best determined by the knowledge, integrity, and commitment of its members. As such, one of our goals is to enhance the zoo industry by acquiring and retaining the brightest minds.
We recently developed a brochure that outlines the benefits of AZA Student Membership while also providing an overview of the complimentary resources available to students on our website. Of particular significance is the AZA Career Center, a web page wherein students have access to a comprehensive selection of job/internship listings.
Best,
Jada Ryan
Program Assistant, Member Services
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314
(P) (301) 244-3340
(E) jryan@aza.org- INTERNSHIP: Mad 4 My Dog internships
Mad 4 My Dog is looking for interns for the fall and spring semesters. We offer dog training, bathing, daycare, retail sales, & in-home pet sitting. Our interns help with training classes and daycare primarily, as well as facility cleanup and class prep. You will get to experience a ton of animal behavior principles implemented in a practical way with clients and their dogs. Please email a resume to Madalyn at mad4mydog@gmail.com.
Check back regularly for new updates
October Science Fest
During October the Program in Animal Behavior participated in Indiana University's annual Science Fest with 3 activities: "The Bird Migration Game", "Build a Neuron" and "Animal Behavior Trivia".
Animal Behavior Highlights
Animal Behavior Adjunct Faculty in the News: Dr. Laura Perry
The paper "Changing Human Behavior to Conserve Biodiversity," published in Annual Review of Environment and Resources, makes a compelling case: human behavior is at the heart of the global biodiversity crisis. Nearly every threat to the natural world—from pollution and climate change to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade—is fueled by human activity. The authors argue that addressing this crisis requires influencing how people act, from consumers and policymakers to businesses and investors. The review explores various strategies to spark this change, from educational campaigns to social marketing and even regulatory policies. However, the authors point out a critical gap: while many interventions exist, few have been scaled up or rigorously evaluated for their real-world impact. They call for more ambitious, evidence-based efforts that prioritize the most harmful behaviors and take into account social inequality. Ultimately, the paper highlights the urgent need for large-scale, science-backed interventions to turn the tide on biodiversity loss before it's too late.
See article
Animal Behavior Faculty in the News: Dr. Erica Cartmill
New CISAB faculty member Erica Cartmill (Professor, Animal Behavior, Anthropology, and Cognitive Science) studies the evolution of language and social cognition, gesture, primate communication, and parent-infant interaction. In her latest paper, “Just Kidding: The Evolutionary Roots of Playful Teasing”, she and coauthors Johanna Eckert and Sasha L. Winkler suggest that playful teasing, a key foundation of social interaction in humans, may be phylogenetically old: great apes demonstrate behaviors that are similar to the playful teasing described in human infants, including offer and withdrawal, provocative noncompliance, and disrupting others’ activities. They argue that studying playful teasing in nonhumans may shed light on the evolution of social cognition. Listen to Dr. Cartmill discuss her work on NPR.
Listen here
IU Biology and Animal Behavior researchers find unusual heat resilience in a Bloomington bird
Tree swallows use behavioral and physiological mechanisms to handle rising temperatures, and their story is an optimistic example of how some species successfully respond to climate change, at least for now.
It’s a difficult time to study birds. Their numbers are down, their habitat is changing, and their prey are disappearing as heat waves grow more common and more intense. Yet, Kim Rosvall and Mary Woodruff of the Department of Biology within the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington have identified a bird that seems to be handling some of these challenges surprisingly well. Their multi-year studies of the tree swallow demonstrate that these birds can employ behavioral and physiological mechanisms to handle the heat.
See articleFellowship, Scholarship, + Award Deadlines
- ABEH Undergraduate Summer Study Scholarships Deadline April 10th of each year
The Program in Animal Behavior awards two summer study scholarships up to $750 each year to aid outstanding Animal Behavior majors at IU Bloomington with the costs of summer field courses, internships, or research experiences in fields relevant to the study of animal behavior. These awards help to defray costs of travel and fees for these experiences. Deadline is April 10th of each year.
- Alex Black Memorial Scholarship Deadline April 10th each year
Alex Black was an outstanding student who received her B.S. degree in Animal Behavior in 2018. She was committed to social justice, strongly advocating for mental health and domestic violence awareness. She was also passionate about her work with animals, spending hundreds of hours on internships both during her undergraduate career and after graduation. The Alex Black Memorial Scholarship was established by Alex’s family to honor Alex’s memory and helps to support students in the Animal Behavior program while they complete summer internships.
Two $2500 scholarships are awarded per year, and all students pursuing a B.S. degree in Animal Behavior are eligible to apply. Deadline is April 10th of each year.- Goodson Prize for the Art in Science Submission deadline is in March
Goodson Prize for Art in Science
Dr. Jim Goodson was a vibrant member of the CISAB community. In addition to being a consummate neuroscientist and critical thinker, Jim was also extraordinarily gifted at capturing the beauty of his science via images, of both his study subjects and his histological material. The Goodson Prize for Art in Science recognizes outstanding research images from CISAB members that are not just scientifically meaningful but are also beautiful. Winning images are showcased both in the CISAB house and on our website.
- Faculty Nominations for Excellence in Thesis Research in Animal Behavior
To recognize some of our many outstanding Animal Behavior majors, CISAB Undergraduate Curriculum Committee has established a new award for Excellence in Thesis Research in Animal Behavior.
- CISAB Graduate Fellowship applications deadline extended February 15, 2024
CISAB Graduate Scholars are outstanding IU graduate students who exemplify an integrative approach to the study of animal behavior through their research, teaching and other professional activities. Awards range from summer support up to 10 months of stipend support. To apply for CISAB funding, applicants must be CISAB members. Join CISAB
All materials (including letters from references) must be submitted by February 15, 2024 by 4 pm Eastern.
- CTRD NIH Pre-doctoral Trainees Fellowship deadline extended: February 12, 2024
CTRD NIH Pre-doctoral Trainees are outstanding IU graduate students whose integrative research interests focus on behavior and physiology in humans and other animals and will address key questions in three related themes: (1) Developmental contributions to reproductive behavior; (2) Origins and expression of differences among the sexes; and (3) Interactions between sex, health, and disease. Awards are for 12 months of stipend support and include a small allowance for research expenses and travel. CTRD Trainees MUST be citizens, non-citizen nationals or permanent residents of the US.
All materials (including letters from references) must be submitted by February 12, 2024 by 4 pm Eastern.- Faculty Nominations for the Rowland Mentoring Award deadline in February
CISAB founding member William J. Rowland was devoted to the study of animal behavior, and a strong advocate for mentoring and training undergraduates in research, particularly undergraduates who were in one way or another disadvantaged in their opportunities to get research experience. The Bill Rowland Mentoring Award was established in Bill’s memory to recognize graduate students who have served as outstanding research mentors to undergraduates. Recommendations are due in February each year.
- Faculty Nominations for the Hanna Kolodziejski Fellowship deadline in February
Established in memory of Hanna Kolodziejski, a remarkable graduate student in CISAB and the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior program in Biology, this fellowship is an annual award for a graduate student who, like Hanna, shows academic talent in both research and teaching, and who demonstrates a commitment to the community through service or outreach programs. The fellowship is open to all CISAB and Biology graduate students, with a preference given to members of CISAB and Evolution, Ecology & Behavior (EEB) students. Recommendations are due in February each year.
Mark your calendars for the 2025 Animal Behavior Conference
The 2025 Animal Behavior Conference is scheduled for March 28th and 29th, 2025.
The College of Arts